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With the rise of the paleo diet (and other health movements) – has come the rise of alternatives to peanut butter. Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower butter, nut butter blends – all have taken off substantially.
Our staff’s favorite has to be almond butter, though. However, with there now being a plethora of options out there for the consumer, it can be overwhelming to know exactly which product to pick.
So we did the research, tested many different brands, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. Here are our top picks, for the best almond butter.
Our Top Pick
Classic Almond Butter by Justin’s
Justin’s makes delicious, premium almond butter. With over 700 glowing online reviews, this is our favorite almond butter. With a smooth texture, non-GMO sourcing, and a great taste – Justin’s is the absolute undisputed king of almond butter. Dig in, and eat up.
Other Great Picks
Zinke Orchards Creamy Almond Butter
With no other ingredients besides almonds, this tasty almond butter from Zinke is absolutely delicious. With over 500 glowing online reviews, and a creamy texture, it is highly recommended.
Keto Nut Butter Fat Bomb
If you’re following the keto diet, this may just be the almond butter for you. With MCT oil added, it offers a fatty (read: delicious) taste, and also helps you stay in ketosis. It’s mixed with a few other ingredients besides almonds, but all of them taste otherworldly, and offer a myriad of health benefits. Definitely recommended.
Maranatha Coconut Almond Butter
If you are trying to give up sweets, this coconut almond butter from Maranatha is a perfect substitute. Since it’s made with the coconut pulp, it’s naturally sweet – without sugar. The only problem you’ll have? Stopping with just a few spoonfuls.
Betsy’s Best Gourmet Cinnamon Almond Butter
Like the taste of cinnamon? Love the taste of almond butter? Then this is the choice for you. With over 180 glowing online reviews, it is one of the best-tasting almond butters we’ve had. It is very much like a dessert though, so go easy on too many spoonfuls at once. Highly recommended.
Barney Butter
With over 1,600 glowing reviews, this almond butter is delicious and smooth. We liked it best in terms of consistency, and loved the taste. Definitely a solid choice.
365 Everyday Value Almond Butter
Whole Foods is a great manufacturer and distributor of healthy products, and we’ve loved their almond butter for years. With over 160 positive online reviews, and a great price point – it’s definitely recommended.
Artisana Almond Butter
Want a USDA-certified organic almond butter? This is likely your pick. With a very high quality taste, and being non-GMO certified – this is one of the best quality almond butters on the market. Recommended.
Spread The Love UNSALTED Almond Butter
This delicious, unsalted almond butter from Spread The Love is perfect for anyone looking to taste a completely authentic almond butter. It’s also crunchy – not smooth – so it’s perfect for any baking needs. Tasty, and recommended.
Nuttzo Organic Crunchy 7 Nut And Seed Butter
One of our all-time favorite nut butters, Nuttzo is a blend of many different types of nuts – not just almonds. It’s crunchy, rich, and perfectly delicious. Highly recommended.
What Is Almond Butter?
Much like peanut butter, almond butter has become extremely popular. With more vitamins, minerals, and fiber per serving – almond butter is actually an arguably healthier option, than the more-traditional peanut butter.
Made from just almonds (ideally), almond butter is exactly what it sounds like – the butter from ground up almonds. While this writer is partial to Whole Foods freshly ground almond butter – nearly every brand we tested tasted absolutely delicious.
You can make your own almond butter in as little as 30 minutes, but for sheer convenience (and a wide variety of flavors) – we love to try new brands of almond butter, fairly frequently. If you are trying to stay optimally healthy, be sure to avoid almond butters with lots of added sugar – they won’t help you stay lean.
Almond Butter Benefits
Almond butter has numerous benefits, besides being flat-out delicious. With 25% more monounsaturated fat than peanut butter, as well as more fiber, vitamins, and minerals – almond butter is a great way to get some extra nutrition in.
While it won’t provide much bioavailable protein, almond butter is a good way to work some extra healthy fats into your diet – and if you go with a flavored option, it feels like a decadent treat. Try mixing some coconut-flavored almond butter into a bowl of sugar-free chocolate chips, for a healthier dessert.
Do I Need To Buy Organic Almond Butter?
While not entirely necessary (especially if you’re on a strict budget), organic almond butter not only tastes better – it will be healthier for you. Heavily processed and non-organic foods are never a healthier option, and this remains true for almond butter.
While organic almond butter may be more expensive, it is definitely worth the higher price tag. Also keep in mind that some products are actually organic, they just haven’t paid for the official USDA organic certification.
How To Make Almond Butter
Making almond butter is very easy, and can be done at home with everyday kitchen equipment. Simply take your favorite almonds, and put them in a food processor.
After about 30 minutes of processing, you will have your very own almond butter. Of course, there are numerous (and much more difficult) ways to make DIY almond butter, but we prefer this method.
Stores and companies usually use industrial strength grinders or processors to make big batches of almond butter. While you could certainly do this as well, it is beyond the scope of most people’s interest.
Is Almond Butter Good For You?
In a word – yes. With tons of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and lots of healthy fat – almond butter is just as healthy as eating almonds.
Since almonds are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat, almond butter is by default one of the healthiest nut butters on the planet. With good amounts of vitamin E, vitamin B2, magnesium, phosphorous, and copper – almond butter is one of the healthiest foods you can consume, except for vegetables.
We don’t really need to add that almond butter – of course – tastes far better than vegetables. Almonds are also loaded with antioxidants – which are one of the best substances to consume, to help slow down the aging process.
Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter
Almond butter and peanut butter not only taste similar – they are similarly nutritious. However, almond butter actually has more vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Peanut butter has the slight edge when it comes to protein, but truthfully you shouldn’t be looking at nut butters for your daily protein requirements to begin with. Peanut butter and almond butter are also largely healthy because they contain lots of healthy fat – specifically the monounsaturated kind.
However, almond butter has almost 30% more monounsaturated fat per serving, than peanut butter. This gives almond butter the nod, in terms of which product is healthier, overall.
Can Dogs Eat Almond Butter?
Your dog probably loves almond butter – and that’s okay, because it’s perfectly safe for them to eat. Don’t overdo it though, as too much almond butter can give them lots of intestinal issues.
Any almond butters that don’t have additives will be safe for your little furry friend to enjoy. If they need to take medicine, almond butter is also a great delivery vehicle.
Is Almond Butter Keto?
Almond butter has very few carbs – just don’t eat a ton of it. With each serving of almond butter having less than 3 grams of carbs, you can eat a moderate amount, and still easily stay keto.
Is Almond Butter Vegan?
Vegans need to get as much protein from as many foods as possible in their diet, as without animal foods, protein is much harder to come by. Almond butter has protein in each serving, and is okay for vegans to eat.
Almond butter averages 7 grams of protein per serving, and you can add it to many different dishes. From using almond butter as a dip or spread, to baking with it, or even putting it in your shakes and smoothies – almond butter is a secret weapon for getting more protein in a standard vegan diet.
Is Almond Butter Healthy?
Almond butter has numerous vitamins, minerals, and a good amount of fiber. In fact, it has more of these elements, than even peanut butter has.
Almond butter will also be tolerated by those with peanut allergies, and is a truly great alternative to peanut butter. You can even get crunchy or smooth almond butter – though we definitely prefer the smooth.
Perhaps most beneficially, almond butter has good fats – which the average American is sorely lacking from their diet. Overall, almond butter fits right into that sweet spot of affordable and healthy.
While some nut butters are healthier (like macadamia nut butter) – they are also very expensive. Almond butter is a more affordable option, which is great for daily use.
As long as you stay away from the flavors of almond butter with lots of added sugar, each spoonful will be very healthy. It is still important to not go overboard on almond butter consumption, as it does not have high amounts of protein, and it is very calorically-dense.
How To Make Almond Butter In A Blender
Making your own almond butter is easiest in a blender or a food processor. It doesn’t involve much more than dumping in the almonds, and turning the machine on.
If you want to make the blending go even faster, heat the almonds up in the oven for about 10 minutes first – we cooked them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you get them in your blender, you’ll want to turn it on – and then wait.
For a while. Our almond butter wasn’t ready for 25 minutes (and we used a food processor, which may slightly modify the time to completion).
You’ll know your almond butter is ready when it starts to look like you’re used to – not weird or unfinished. If you want your DIY almond butter to be extra creamy – let it stay in your blender or food processor for a few extra minutes.
Our almond butter is still good (and resting in a glass jar in our fridge), so it will stay edible for quite a while. While we can’t say for exactly how long it will be good for (based on our limited experience) – online guides say your DIY almond butter will last for about a month if it’s properly refrigerated.
How Do I Choose The Best Almond Butter For Me?
There are a huge amount of almond butter products out there – so you have endless options to choose from. Be sure to avoid lots of added sugars, if you want to stay skinny (or lose weight).
We do like some of the flavored almond butters, but many of them have lots sugars added to them. If you want to save the most money, make your almond butter at home.
When you are making the best pick for yourself, be sure to look at the calories, whether or not the almond butter has lots of added ingredients or undergoes heavy processing, and what the price is like.
We like organic, low sugar almond butter the best – but your mileage may vary. One thing is for sure – every almond butter we tried – was absolutely delicious.
The Best Almond Butter
There you have it – our top picks for the best almond butter. Whether you want almond butter on its own, a nut butter blend, or even a flavored version – there is definitely a product out there for you.
With more vitamins, minerals, and fiber than peanut butter – almond butter is a great alternative for those who may be allergic to peanuts. You can use almond butter for a dip, a spread, eat it on its own, or even add it to your shakes and smoothies.
The bottom line, is that almond butter is one of the healthiest options on the market, when it comes to healthy fats. Of course, there are lots of options out there in the kitchen and food world besides these, so be sure and check out some of our other product reviews.